Timing device



Aug. 20, 194-9. 3 GERDTS 2,212,319

TIMING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 0 arm FGER Ts BY z 4 ATTORNEYS 20, 1940. s. F. GERDTS 2,212,319

TIMING DEVICE Filed May 5. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I a W "W IN V EN TOR.

GUSTAV F. GERD BY 41 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 5, 1937, Serial No. 140,829 In Germany May 26, 1936 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an indicating device and refers more particularly to a time indicator used in conjunction with boiler valves, which remove mud, silt, sludge and other deposits from steam boilers.

Valves of this type are usually operated very often, namely, every hour or every two hours, and remain open for a short time, mostly two to three seconds. The reason for this manner of operation is that mud, silt or deposits should be removed from the steam boiler shortly after they have been brought thereto, while they are still loose and flaky and are carried by the water flowing within the'boiler; on the other hand these sediments should be removed without causing a considerable loss of water and heat, which would make the use of the deposit-removing valves unprofitable and even dangerous. 9

The valves are now operated by hand and require considerable work and attention on the part of the workmen. Since an improper handling of the valves may cause great damage, many plants have found it necessary to employ special supervisors for controlling the workmen in charge of the valves.

These valves are sometimes combined with a counting device or a clock, which indicates the number of times a valve has been operated in the course of one day or the time of the opening of the valve. Up to now, no devices were constructed which would indicate the period of time during which the valve was opened, although this information is of considerable importance to the operator. The determination of this period was left to the discretion or skill of the operator andin case of an accident it was impossible to find whether the damage was caused by the valve being kept open for a too long or a too short period of time. Furthermore, it was diillcult, if not impossible to keep the valves open for equal periods of time, or to correct the manner of operating a valve,

, the time periods during which the valve was open,

ifit' was found thatin the past vention may be realized through the provision of a device, which is connected with a valve and which may comprise a wound clock-work mechanism, a hydraulic brake mechanism, or the like, operated by means movable along with the valve 5 lever. The clock-work mechanism or the hydraulic device may be connected to an indicator of the usual type and may be provided with 9. seconds hand, movable over a dial while the valve remains open.

The same device may operate a warning signal, such as a disk, at the expiration of a predetermined period of time during which a valve is to remain open. This warning disk may be so constructed that when the valve is closed, it is moved 15 back out of sight, either by its own weight, or under the action of a spring.

If forsome reason the operator did not close the valve after the appearance of the warning signal, then a second signal, such as a red disk, 20 takes the place of the first disk. This second disk may be so constructed, that it will not move back automatically into its original position after the valve has been switched 011, thus indicating to the supervisor or the engineer, that the valve 25 remained open for a too long a time.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a valve combined with a clock-work mechanism.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing a valve combined with a hydraulic device.

The device shown in Figure 1 of the drawings comprises a boiler-valve 60, which is carried by a pipe 6i, and which is operated by a lever Ii.

The mechanism, by means of which a downward movement of the lever It causes the opening of thevalve this of standard'type and is not further shown in the drawings. As soon as the valve is opened, mud, silt andother impurities contained in the water of a steam boil- 5 er, will be removed along with some of this water through the pipe ll.

One end of a cord 3 is passed through the opening 84, provided in the lever a, and is firmly connected with this lever. Obviously the cord 3 may be replaced by a wire, a rod or any other suitable connecting means.

The opposite end of the cord 3 is carried by a hook 4, which is screwed into the lower end of a vertical rod I. 'lhe rod 8 is reciprocable in a casing 8, which is indicated-diagrammatically in the drawing and which is provided with a lower chamber 65 and an upper chamber 65-. The lower end of the rod 5 has the form of a disk I3, which is situated within the chamber 65 and which is of larger diameter than the diameter of the opening 5, connecting the lower chamber 65 with the upper chamber 55.

A coiled spring chamber 65 and surrounds the cord 3. The lower end of the coiled spring 52 presses against the bottom of the chamber 65, while its upper end is in engagement with the disk l3.

The movable rod 6 extends through the chamber 65 and is provided with an opening or slot l. A rod E5, the operation of which will be described hereinafter, extends through the opening ti, provided in the casing 8 as well as through the opening l of the rod d. A. clock-work spring ll presses the rod l5 downward against the bottom wall 68 of ,the opening l. The upper end of the spring ll is firmlyconnected with the lever it, while its lower end is attached to a casing ea, which may constitute an integral part of the casing 8.

The upper end of the rod 6 is connected by a link 9 with a tracer or pen it, which is movable over a paper dial of the recording disk ill. The disk it is rotated by means of a clock-work mechanism i I, which is diagrammatically indicated in the drawings.

The lever i5 is integral with a disk M, which is rotatably mounted upon a pivot it. A toothed segment M which is also integral with the disk ii, is situated opposite the lever l5. I

The teeth of the segment it mesh with the teeth of a gear it, which is rotatably mounted upon a shaft ii, and which is firmly connected and rotatable along with a larger toothed wheel It. The teeth of the wheel it are in engagement withthe teeth of a gear The gears it, 99 and it constitute a typical gear drive of the usual clock-work mechanism which also contains other gear wheels not shown in the-drawings. The last wheel of the clockwork mechanism is in engagement with an es= capement wheel 2d cooperating withits escapement which serves as a brake and balancing weights 28 which may be so adjusted that the clock-work mechanism can run for a predetermined period of time.

The wheel 2d carries a tooth or cog 23, which is in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 22.

Thewheel 22 is firmly connected with a hand or indicator 2|, movable over the scale 27;

Another gear 28 is also in engagement with the gear l9 and carries two curved pieces 29 and 30. The pieces 29 and 30 are adiustably mounted upon the wheel 28 and are rotatable therewith. The wheel 28 is rotatably mounted-upon a shaft Two disks 32 and 38 are situated one over the other, the disk 38 being preferably red in color. The disk 32 is carried by a rod 3i, while the disk 381s carried by a rod 31. The lower ends of these rods are mounted upon a pivot 33,- which is carried by a casing 36. The rod 3! is also firmly connected, or made of a single piece with another rod 13, the free end of which carries a weight 35.

"The casing 36, which is indicated diagrammatically in the drawings, is provided with a small window 34, which is so located that the I2 is situated within the.

has been improperly operated.

mechanism It to 2d will be at a standstill. In this position the spring 82 presses the disk i3 against the top wall of the chamber 65 and the lever 55 is pressed upward by the surface 68 of the rod 6, so that the spring H, which is weaker than the spring i2, is expanded.

When the operator desires to open the valve til he presses the lever 53 downward, which will move along with the cord 3. Since the cord 3 is connected by means of the hook d with the rod ii, the rod 6 will also move downward along with the disk 63, thereby compressing the spring it.

The link 9 also moves downward along with the rod 6 and actuates the pen iii, which will indicate upon the disk it the time at which the opening of the valve took place; furthermore, the line drawn by the pen 6% will show whether the valve was open to the full extent or only partly.

The lever 65 will not move downward along with the rod d, in spite of the pulling action of the spring ll, due to the engagement of the teeth of the segment M with those of the gear it. The slot l' makes it possible for the rod t to move independently of the lever 95.

However, as soon as the surface 88 of the rod d is moved out of contact with the lever it, the spring ll will begin to operate as the spring of a clock-workmechanlsm, causing a slow rotation of the lever 85 and the segment id around the 3 pivot it.

Since the teeth of the segment i l engage those of the gear it, the rotation of the segment it will be transmitted to the gears 58, i9 and it, other gear wheels not shown in the drawings, the escapement wheel 2% and the ratchet wheel 22. The hand 26 attached to one of the gear wheels, will move slowly over the scale El indicating the number of seconds elapsed since the opening of the valve 68.

Since the wheel it meshes with the wheel 28 this latter wheel will be rotated by the wheel 06. The curved pieces or projections 29 and it upon the wheel 28 are so selected that after a predetermined time from the moment of the opening of the valve the curved piece 29 will turn the rod SI and the disk 32 connected with it around the pivot 33 to such an extent that the disk 82 will appear in front of the window 3t provided in the casing 3%.

As shown in Figure 1, the second curved piece 39 is so spaced from the curved piece 29, that it will come into contact with the rod 31 after the disk 32 has been moved by the piece 29. The disc 38 is situated between the disc 82 and the window. 36. When, finally, the disc 98 is moved by the piece 86 in front of the window 8%, covering the disk 32, the operator will know that the valve 60 has been maintained open for an undesirably long period. The disc 32. is provided with the counterweight 35, so that it will move back into its original position shown in Figure 1, as soonas the pieceje is moved'out of contact with the rod 3!. as has no counterweight, so that it will remain in front of the window 36 even after the valve Ed has been. closed, thereby serving as an indication to the inspector or foreman that the valve When the operator releases his pressure However, the disc up n 78 slot 1, through which the bar 39 extends.

the lever 63 of the valve 60, the lever 63 will return into its original inoperative position due to the action of a spring (not shown) or the steam pressure in the boiler, thereby closing the valve. Then the rod l5 and the toothed segment M will be moved back to the position shown in Figure 1, by the rod 6 thereby rotating the gears of the clock-work mechanism in opposite directions and expanding the spring H. The wheel 23 will rotate along with' the wheel l9, thereby moving the pieces 23 and out of engagement with the rods 3| and 31, respectively. As already mentioned, the weight will swing back the disk 32. At the same time the pen 10 will be also brought into the position shown in Figure 1 by the rod 6. However the cog 23 engaging the wheel 22 will prevent the wheel 24 and the escapement 25 from participating in this return movement.

In the device shown in Figure 2, hydraulic means are used instead of the clock-work mechanism, similar parts being designated by the same numerals. The arm 63 of the valve 60 is connected by a cord 3 and a hook 4 with the rod 6, having a disk |3 which is in engagement with the spring I2. The rod 6 is provided with a The upper end of the rod 6 is connected by means of a link 9 with a pen 10 adapted to trace lines upon the disk l0, operated by a clock work mechanism The bar 33 is firmly connected with a piston rod 46 carrying a piston 41. The piston 41 is situated within a cylinder 48 provided with a cover 83. The cylinder 48 is filled with oil 49, or any other suitable liquid.

The piston 41 is provided with a narrow passage 5| extending through the piston, and is also provided with a non-return valve 50, having a disk portion 8|, adapted to, fit into a suitable recess provided in the piston. The valve 50 is also provided with a conical rear portion 82 having an opening, which constitutes a continuation of the opening 83, surrounding the valve 50.-

The bar 39 is provided with an upper portion or rack 4|, having teeth 84, which are in engagement with the toothed wheel 43 firmly connected with an indicator or hand 44, and rotatably mounted upon a pivot 35. The hand 44 is movable over a scale 45. The rack 4| is guided by a casing or guide 42, which is connected with a casing 36.

The upper end of a compression spring 40 is attached to the casing 35, while the lower end of this spring presses against the bar 33.

.The device operates as follows:

When the lever 83 01' the valve 60 is moved downward, the cord 3 attached to the hook 4 moves the rod 3, thereby actuating the pen 10 which will indicate the time of the opening of the valve 30 and the extent to which the valve has been opened.

Since the bar 33 is situated within the slot 1 provided in the rod 3, the bar 33 will not participate in the downward movement or the rod 3. However, the spring 44, which is then in a state of compression will be free now to move downward the rod 33 and the piston rod 44, connected therewith.

Since the rack is guided by the casing 42 the pressure of the compressed spring 43 will be directed directly downward and will be transmitted through the piston rod 43 to the piston 41. The piston 41 will begin to move downward slowly and the oilwill flow gradually upward through the narrow passage 5|. At that time the non-return valve will be closed, the disc 8| of this valve being situated in the recess provided in the piston 41. At the same time the toothed wheel 43 will be slowly rotated by the rack 4|, thereby gradually moving the hand 44 over the scale 45.

The pressure of the spring 40 and the indicia upon the scale 45 may be so arranged that the hand 44 will operate as the second hand of a clock, indicating the time interval during which the valve has remained open. In order to attain this result the indications upon the scale 45 must be placed at unequal distances from each other, thereby compensating for the variable pressure of the spring 40.

In order to close the valve 60 the operator releases the pressure upon the lever 63, which will then move to its original position shown in Figure 2. The spring I2 will expand and move the rod 6 which will contact the rod 39 and move it upward along with the piston rod 46 of the piston 41. At that time the non-return valve 50 will be opened, as shown in Figure 2, so that the oil situated above the piston 41 will flow freely through the opening 83 into the lower portion of the cylinder.

Since the spring 40 is weaker than the spring l2, it will be compressed in the course of the upward movement'of the rod 39. The rack 4| will rotate the toothed wheel 43, moving the hand 44 back into its original position.

What is claimed is:

1. A time indicating device comprising an oscillatable lever, a toothed segment connected with said lever and movable therewith, a' time hand, a clock mechanism operatively connecting said time hand with said segment and comprising an escapement wheel, an escapement adapted to engage said escapement wheel, and balancing weights carried by said escapement; means connected with said lever for moving it from a predetermined position when a valve is opened, said movement of the lever being transmitted by said segment and said clock mechanism to said timehand, whereupon said time-hand is actuated by said clock mechanism, and means adapted to engage said lever and move it backinto said predetermined position when said valve is being closed.

2. A time indicating device comprising a movable element, a time hand, means operatively connecting said time hand with said movable element, resilient means pressing against said movable element, a piston rod connected with said movable element, a piston connected with said piston rod, a cylinder enclosing said piston, said cylinder being filled with a fluid, a narrow passage for said fluid being formed in said piston, a non-return valve carried by said piston, and

means engaging said movable element and holding it to follow said rod when the latter is moved, a

a time hand, and means operatively connecting said time handwith said elongated member to 73 move said time hand when said elongated memher is moved. I

4. A time indicating device comprising a bar, a rack firmly connected with said bar, guiding means for said rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, a time hand carried by said pinion, means connected with said bar for slowly moving the same from a predetermined position when a valve is opened and thereby moving said time hand, and means adapted to engage said bar for moving it back into said predetermined position.

5. A time indicating device comprising a movable element, a gear wheel, means operatively connecting said gear wheel with said movable element, means connected with said movable element for moving the same from a predetermined position when a valve is opened, said movement of the movable element being transmitted by the first mentioned means to said gear wheel, means adapted to engage said movable element and move it back into said predetermined position when said valve is being closed, a casing having an opening .formed therein, two Warning discs adapted to be moved in front of said opening, means connected with said gear wheel for moving said discs one after the other after a predetermined time interval in front of said opening, and means connected with that one of said discs which was first moved in front of said opening, for moving it back into its original position, the other one of said discs remaining infront of said opening after the valve has been closed.

6. A time indicating device comprising a movable lever, means connected with said movable lever for moving the same from a predetermined position when a valve is opened, means adapted to engage said movable lever and move it back into said predetermined position when said valve is being closed, a wheel, means connected with said wheel for driving the same, means connecting said lever with the last-mentioned means to turn said Wheel when said lever isactuated, at least one projection carried by .said wheel, at least one rotatable rod, and a signalling device carried by said rod, said projection being adapted to engage and move said rod, whereby said signalling device is actuated. '7. A time indicating device, comprising, in combination, a rod having a slot formed therein, a recording disc, means connected with said recording disc for rotating the same, a tracer situated over said recording disc, means operativeiy connecting said tracer with said rod, a movable elongated member extending. through said slot and contacting said rod, means connected with said rod for moving the same from a predetermined positionwhen a valve is opened, said movement of the rod being transmitted by the second-mentioned means to said tracer, means connected with said elongated member for causing it to follow said rod when the latter is moved, a hand, and means operatively connecting said hand with said elongated member to move said hand when said elongated member is moved, whereby said hand is moved while said tracer is actuated.

- GUSTAV F. GERDTS. 

